Sydney Boys High School, Sydney’s oldest stand-alone public high school, is undertaking a significant fundraising effort to rebuild its historic Fairland Pavilion in Centennial Park, a move crucial to maintaining its participation in the prestigious Athletic Association of the Great Public Schools of New South Wales (GPS) competition. The school faces a $4 million bill to finance the project, with a looming deadline that could impact its long-standing use of the facility and adjacent McKay Oval.
Sydney Boys High has been competing in the GPS sports competition for 120 years, often standing out as the only public school among elite private institutions such as Newington College, Shore, and Riverview. Under a 2024 agreement with Greater Sydney Parklands—the agency responsible for Centennial Park—the school’s foundation has committed to contributing $4 million toward rebuilding the pavilion. In exchange, Sydney Boys would secure a 45-year licence to continue using the pavilion for rugby, cricket, soccer, and athletics.
The redevelopment plan includes construction of new change rooms, sports storage, a kitchen, and dining facilities. During the rebuilding process, the school will continue to use the existing pavilion for up to five years. The long-term lease would commence once construction is complete, with the pavilion remaining available for shared use by Sydney Boys High and the wider community, according to a Greater Sydney Parklands spokesperson.
Despite the agreement, Jacob Erzakhovich, president of the school’s old boys’ union, issued a warning in a May update to alumni that the school must swiftly raise the required funds. Failure to do so could jeopardize its access to the oval and pavilion, potentially threatening Sydney Boys’ ability to sustain competitive participation in GPS sports. Erzakhovich highlighted the challenges of fundraising in the current economic climate, noting that public schools struggle to match the extensive fundraising capabilities of wealthy private schools.
Echoing this perspective, Chris Dutkowski, head of the parents and citizens association at Brisbane State High School—the sole public member of Queensland’s GPS—said public schools face similar pressures. Brisbane State High does not receive additional funding for its GPS involvement or facility maintenance, and its coaches are primarily teachers rather than dedicated sports professionals. Dutkowski stressed the importance of maintaining public school access to elite-level interschool sports, emphasizing the opportunities it provides to students regardless of their financial background.
Former King’s School headmaster Tim Hawkes described the rising financial investment in GPS sport as a response to inflation, heightened parental expectations, and the recognition of elite sport as a viable career path.
Sydney Boys High’s association with Centennial Park dates back to 1928 when the New South Wales government granted the school access to playing fields due to its constrained urban site. This need to provide accessible sports facilities for the selective public school remains a key factor underpinning the current redevelopment initiative.